Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-12
THE GRAND Oldham"
SERMON PREACHED LAST EVENING BY REV
A. L. JORDAN,
At the FIrs Baptist Church, Large Congregation
Present to Listen b 3 Good Discourse
Synopsis.

Notwithstanding the rainy weather, last
evening good sized congregation assem-
bled at the First Baptist Church to listen
to Rev. A. L. Jordan deliver an excellent
sermon on the subject: THE Grand Old
Man" He took his text from Joshua xiv.
Is: "But as for me and my house, we Will
serve the Lord" Following is synopsis
of the sermon, which was listened to with
close attention:
Could Mr. Gladstone, who has now the
title of the 'Grand Old Man" OF our day,
occupy this platform | am sure we should
be all attention TO anything he might say.
But we sit in the presence Of one tonight
who by the grace of God and general con-
sent outranks even Mr.. Gladstone-one
who commander the sun TO stand still
and it obeyed him. Our text Is the Ian
guage of this wonderful man, uttered at
about the age of 10 years. He is stand
standing in the midst Of his own people,
a leader beloved snd trusted, delivering
his valedictory address aud getting ready
to leave them forever. After reminding
them of all Gods patience and mercy IN
the past, He calls upon them to decide
whether they will serve the Lord God OF
Heaven or the god of the heathens among
whom they dwell "But rs for me and
my house." said this grand old man,
1.-The decision is formed-foImed deliber-
ately out of one hundred solid years OF ex-
TERRENCE and observations
ately out of one hundred solid years Of eN-
perience and observations.
To find the motives which influence
such a man as he, is our task. Because
i'll them we shall find ample reason and
vindication for all similar acts of devotion
to God in his day and in our own.
Let me give you some hints why We
may safely challenge the world to produce
iust one example Of a man regretting,upon
his death bed that he had lived a
SINCERE CHRISTIAN LIFE,
or one case in which his family or neigh
bors regretted it, or even his horse, or cat,
or dog.
Why is it you rarely hear of a funeral
any more, of saint or sinner, ct which some
minister of the Gospel is not called upon 10
ofliciate. And why is it that So large a
proportion of the people prefer to be mar
ried by minister rather than magistrate!
And why is it that when men or women
come to poverty or want they never 20
around bunting up "lnfdel Clubs" to get
assistance? Ard why is 1t that men who
won't 90 TO church and don't believe in
are 80 willing for their children
to 60? And why is it that you can scarce
ly read or hear political speech from the
most currupt politician without the Bible
il freely quoted?
And why is it that you rarely see adver-
tised piece of property for sale but that
it is added Good schools and churches
And why is it that if pat
ent medicine man can get some prominent
clergyman TO vouch for his honesty or his
drugs, that you never hear the last OF it.
And when you dispose Of this swarm OF
Why's" you may take few in little
form, but two illustrations must
suffice now A good many Christian men,
despairing of relief from the remorseleSs
rum power IN asy thing short OF the pro-
hibition OF its manufacture found
themselves exalted into next sect,
to be
KNOWN HENCEFoRTH AS "CRASKs."
And behold here is the Supreme Court
of the United States, by their late rulings
i'll the Kansas cases, getting crank"
too. Who would have believed that
cranks could be thus POPULAR But
Christ shall have dominion over river, sea
and shore; far as the doves light pinion
or eagles wing can soar" That explains
all, but take but one more We know full
we'll that the enemies Of Christ
are not pOwerless. They can scott,
and rail, and blaspheme; but there is one
thing they absolutely cannot d.. They.
can't let him atone. What, then, shall |
do with jesus" said the worried Plate
Why not sir, take the advice of your wife
and "have nothing to do with him. "
Alas" he answers, ''he is on my hands;
I've got to dispose Of him some way"
Thus he stands before every soul in silent
majesty, forcing himself into the thoughts
and feelings OF men and into their arts,
sciences and politics. He cannot tie ig-
nored, and yet We hear it On every side,
Religion isn't popular"
1t was the most profitable thing Joshua
could do. Goodness is profitable, etc,
needs no better vindica;iOn than that
Mund in the life of Joshua. Amply sup
piled with all he needed of this world, his
family with him in all the integrity OF
Christian character; his life work accom-
plished; rsyered and hOnored by his gen
GRAFTON, he sank to his rest like the sun
sinks into the ocean, bathed and swal-
lowed up in is own glory, aud his name
has been a household word ever since.
And finally, as the father OF family,
a. citizen and mau, there was nothing
else be could do.